Very interesting question, Dante. From a book online entitled Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage: crook n (StVn) Box-crook (Dmca) catacou 2. (Angu) crock (Dmca)( donkey-box (Antg) a double carrier consisting of two side-baskets, or made of light, curved, iron bars or wood (box-crook) slung across the back of a donkey, for transporting ground-provisions, etc. ) . . earliest cit 1657 f. Ligon Barbadoes. This reminds me of those bucolic etchings depicting a worker walking alongside a thus-loaded pack animal. Cheers, Laura On Apr 7, 2010, at 3:00 AM, caribbean-request@rootsweb.com wrote: Message: 1 Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 23:39:48 -0500 From: Dante Beretta <dberetta@meltel.net> Subject: [Carib] Slavery- Crook boys and girls I'm reviewing an 1837 inventory for a plantation on the island of St. Croix, Danish West Indies (now U.S. Virgin Islands). The slaves are categorized as to their different jobs. Most of the boys and girls between age 7 and 11 are on the 'Grass Gang' which I understand to be supplying grass/forage to the livestock. Between age 12 and 17, most of the boys and girls are listed as 'Crook Boy' or 'Crook Girl'. I can't find this term anywhere, but I assume it was outside work preparing one for field work which was the work of the majority of the adult slaves. Does anyone have a clearer idea of what the term 'Crook Boy' entailed when it came to life on the estates? Dante End of CARIBBEAN Digest, Vol 5, Issue 37 ****************************************